I Sidelines

FORBES MIDDLE EAST Holding The Power

I think that—much like children or pets—when it comes to our annual issues, we are not really supposed to have favorites. Every month is a valuable, informative, and entertaining read. But I’m afraid I can’t help it. Our list highlighting the Middle East’s most successful, influential, and inspiring businesswomen is up there for me—one of my top three for sure. For a couple of distinct reasons. Firstly, it celebrates and commends women for being excellent, which is always going to be one of my favorite things to do. Secondly, it shows just how many women there are holding some of the most challenging and important positions in MENA, which is something we may otherwise be unaware of.

The three leaders we feature this month are playing fundamental roles in making the Middle East a globally competitive marketplace. Sarah Al Suhaimi, Chairperson of the Saudi Tadawul Group, is heading the region’s largest capital market, and last year oversaw its own IPO, as well as an extensive restructure designed to make the kingdom an even more attractive bet for international investors. Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive at ADGM Courts, helped build the judicial system for one of the U.A.E.’s biggest financial free zones based on a digital-first premise that put it one foot ahead when the pandemic hit. And Maryam Al Suwaidi, CEO of the U.A.E.’s Securities and Commodities Authority, has just overseen the application of a suite of new legislation that makes it even easier for businesses in the region to make an IPO part of their future plans.

This year’s list of MENA’s most powerful businesswomen features representatives of 19 different nationalities and 17 sectors. The U.A.E. and Egypt scored the most entries with seven each, followed by Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, and Oman, with four entries each. The banking and financial services sector is the most dominant with 16 entries, followed by diversified conglomerates and the retail sector with six entries each, and the technology sector with five. Over 25% of the women on this year’s list are leaders of regional offices and divisions for multinational companies, such as Saeeda Jaffar of Visa, Derya Matras of Meta, Sophie Doireau of Cartier, and Rima Assi of McKinsey & Company. And there are 12 newcomers, eight of which are based in the U.A.E., two in Qatar, and two in Saudi Arabia.

All in all, this month is one of our regular powerhouse issues, which I think shows how the Middle East is becoming ever more progressive, inclusive, and future-focused. I hope you enjoy finding out more about the businesswomen making this possible.

—Claudine Coletti, Managing Editor

INNOVATING SINCE 2010

FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE 113

Dr. Nasser Bin Aqeel Al Tayyar President & Publisher

nasser@forbesmiddleeast.com

Khuloud Al Omian

Editor-in-Chief Forbes Middle East, CEO - Arab Publisher House khuloud@forbesmiddleeast.com

Editorial

Claudine Coletti Managing Editor claudine@forbesmiddleeast.com Laurice Constantine Digital Managing Editor laurice@forbesmiddleeast.com Fouzia Azzab Senior Arabic Editor fouzia@forbesmiddleeast.com

Jamila Gandhi Senior Reporter jamila@forbesmiddleeast.com Samar Khouri Online Editor samar@forbesmiddleeast.com

Amany Zaher Quality Editor amany@forbesmiddleeast.com Cherry Aisne Trinidad Online Editor aisne@forbesmiddleeast.com Nermeen Abbas Senior Reporter nermeen@forbesmiddleeast.com Juweyria Hersi Editorial and Marketing Executive editorial@forbesmiddleeast.com

Research

Jason Lasrado Head of Research jason@forbesmiddleeast.com Elena Hayek Researcher elena@forbesmiddleeast.com

Business Development

Ruth Pulkury Senior Vice President - Business Development ruth@forbesmiddleeast.com Joseph Chidiac joe@forbesmiddleeast.com Fiona Pereira fiona@forbesmiddleeast.com Karl Noujaim karl@forbesmiddleeast.com Natalie Ghazaley natalie@forbesmiddleeast.com Sarine Nemchehirlian sarine@forbesmiddleeast.com Upeksha Udayangani Client Relations Executive upeksha@forbesmiddleeast.com Tayyab Riaz Mohammed Financial Controller riaz@forbesmiddleeast.com

Soumer Al Daas Head of Creative soumer@forbesmiddleeast.com Julie Gemini Marquez Brand & Creative Content Executive julie@forbesmiddleeast.com Kashif Baig Graphic Designer kashif@forbesmiddleeast.com Mohammed Ashkar Assistant IT Manager ashkar@forbesmiddleeast.com Muhammad Saim Aziz Web Developer saim@forbesmiddleeast.com Habibullah Qadir Senior Operations Manager habib@forbesmiddleeast.com Daniyal Baig Chief Operating Officer daniyal@forbesmiddleeast.com

FORBES US Chairman and Editor-In-Chief Steve Forbes CEO and President Michael Federle

Copyright© 2019 Arab Publisher House Copyright @ 2019 Forbes IP (HK) Limited. All rights reserved. This title is protected through a trademark registered with the US Patent & Trademark Office Forbes Middle East is published by Arab Publisher House under a license agreement with Forbes IP (HK) Limited. 499 Washington Blvd, 10th floor, Jersey City, NJ, 07310 Founded in 1917 B.C. Forbes, Editor-in-Chief (1917-54); Malcolm S. Forbes, Editor-in-Chief (1954-90); James W. Michaels, Editor (1961-99) William Baldwin, Editor (1999-2010) ABU Dhabi Office Office 602, Building 6, Park Rotana Office Complex, Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. - P.O. Box 502105, info@forbesmiddleeast.com Dubai Office Office 309, Building 4, Emaar Business Park, Dubai, U.A.E. - P.O. Box 502105, Tel: +9714 3995559, readers@forbesmiddleeast.com subscription@forbesmiddleeast.com Egypt Office 3rd floor, 25 Wezaret Al Zeraa St., Al Dokki, Giza Governorate, Egypt Tel: +202 33385845 - 33385844 Ahmed Mabrouk +201 225681325 Email: ahmed@forbesmiddleeast.com Queries: editorial@forbesmiddleeast.com For Production Queries: production@forbesmiddleeast.com

LEGAL CIRCLE

Legal Partners

Legal Circle FZC • United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 583 0716 • Email info@legalcircle.co www.legalcircle.co

EPTALEX • MEG LEGAL SERVICES P.O.Box 182859 • Dubai • UAE Tel +971 4 238 4655 • www.eptalex.com Forbes Middle East is legally represented by

Abdullah AlHaithami Advocate & Legal Consultants